Eesti in brief - 2004-11-01

A 38-year-old Parnu county resident shot and killed a 21-year-old intruder in what police say was probably a case of self-defense. A group of three young men, one of whom was carrying a metal pole, reportedly came to the man's house to settle a score over a previous conflict that involved his daughter. The man made several warning shots from his registered sports weapon to chase the intruders away. The perpetrators then returned with an unregistered gun and started shooting. In the following exchange, the older man hit one of the assailants in the chest, who later died in the hospital. Police are currently investigating the incident.

Rein Otsason, chairman of the board of Eesti Krediidipank and former president of the Bank of Estonia, died of heart failure at the age of 73 on Oct.30. Otsason, a renowned economist, was one of the key economic experts responsible for Estonian monetary reform. From 1988 to 1989 he headed the Estonian SSR's planning committee and from 1989 to 1991 he headed the Bank of Estonia.

The Port of Tallinn introduced stricter passenger and luggage control in its Tallinn and Paldiski passenger terminals on Nov. 1 to comply with international security regulations. The company said that it needed to prevent forbidden substances and objects from being taken aboard ships. It also said that control measures would not affect all passengers and that it hoped to maintain a regular service.

Defense Minister Margus Hanson (photo) went to Iraq on Nov. 2 to meet Estonian peacekeeping troops, Hazim al-Shalaan, the Iraqi minister of defense and Iraq's multinational forces commander General George Casey. Hanson will return to Estonia on Nov. 6. ESTPLA-9, an Estonian patrol unit in Iraq, returned to its routine assignments this week after a short break caused by the death of a second Estonian peacekeeper on Oct. 25.